Newcastle United have been linked with a move for Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti this month.
Eddie Howe has supposedly stepped up his search for a new centre-back after they saw a £30m bid rejected for Lille's Sven Botman and Umtiti has now emerged as a transfer target.
According to reports, Barcelona have offered the 28-year-old to the Magpies on a potential loan move for the remainder of the 2021/22 season.
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The Frenchman has only made one appearance this season, though, and is a player the Spanish club want off their books and the Magpies have been touted as a destination for Umtiti in Janaury.
Barcelona had to allow Antoine Griezmann, Emerson Royal, Miralem Pjanic and Junior Firpo all to leave in the summer to free up funds so that they can register new signings.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi also departed to join Paris Saint-Germain, with Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia amongst those to sign on free transfers after being restricted due to their financial crisis.
They need to cut their wage bill further this month in order to land their targets and strengthen in other areas.
Ferran Torres made the £55million move to the Spanish giants from Manchester City last week, but he still isn't registered after issues with the league's salary cap.
Umtiti, who has featured 133 times since joining from Lyon in 2016, could be someone to make way, but the source revealed that he has already rejected five other moves away from the club.
The identification of those involved aren't yet known, however, Barcelona are said to be frustrated with Umtiti after he refused to depart despite interest from elsewhere last summer.
After struggling for regular game time last term, he agreed with club president Joao Laporta to give him one last chance to prove his worth and regain a starting place in the side.
However, Umtiti has been unable to do that which has sparked rumours about a departure from the Catalan outfit, with the Magpies among the clubs linked with a move.
He has also received fresh offers from Fenerbache and one unnamed French club to end his time at Camp Nou, as per Spanish outlet Sport.
Umtiti, who has 18 months left on his current contract, is understood to be available for £17m - almost half the amount Barcelona paid Lyon over five years ago.
Newcastle have also been tipped to sign Sevilla's Diego Carlos and Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski as Howe looks to bolster his defensive options in the winter market.
Kieran Trippier is close to completing a £12m move from Atletico Madrid, while Lucas Digne has also been linked to strengthen at left-back after falling out of favour at Everton.
During his time at Barcelona, Umtiti has won the La Liga twice and also helped lift the Copa del Rey on three occasions and would come to the Magpies with a vast amount of pedigree and experience.
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